In the summer of 2023, I began filming an interview series focused on people and organizations in the hallways who are striving to build relationships in a divided world. He was the only place I had in mind when looking for locations to shoot. It was Rainbow House. Located a stone’s throw from the Gene Oxley Building and currently operated as a short-term rental, the 100-year-old Rainbow House boasts paint that matches the Philly Pride flag and is a beacon of inclusivity. standing.
I sat down with owner and local real estate developer Eric Guschmidt to learn more about his different approach to building community through real estate.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=/mdhYDKNakvw
Can you tell me why the concept of “community” is so important to the real estate rental industry?
“I have no formal training or background in (real estate). Cedar Rapids is a rich community. I see my colleagues building win-win relationships with tenants. I have no college degree. Although I have never put it on my resume, I have learned more in the service industry than I did in higher education.As someone who waits tables, your goal is to make sure your customers are happy overall. It’s about having an experience. Even if something goes wrong, you hope for a good long-term outcome and come back. This is the mindset I bring to real estate and property management.”
You are also known for restoring turn-of-the-century homes. Some in particular are labeled as “plagues.” What role does restoring historic properties play in regional development?
“When you build a neighborhood, it’s usually built with the idea in mind that it’s going to be a complete space. Over the years, as neighborhoods have changed, factors have arisen that can disrupt their dynamics. Maybe a bad neighbor or landlord comes to town, or a big institution buys a house and turns it into a parking lot. When an epidemic occurs, it’s not an accident and it’s usually controllable. It is the result of a series of larger forces. Rebuilding the house can be the cure.”
Why not just kill them and start over?
“Probably stupidity and nostalgia,” he says with a laugh. “This goes back to sustainability. 1900 to 1920 was the golden age of residential construction. In my opinion, Craftsman homes have the best bones of any era. Destroy them, It’s a shame when you end up with something that isn’t as strong as the first one. In a perfect world, you’d build something with the long term in mind, and your built environment would evolve as the culture evolves. Perhaps someday we’ll have flying cars and so on, so what we build today will need to interact with new technologies and new ways of living. Another example: , we are already seeing less demand for office space than before the pandemic.”
Gashmit’s quip about flying cars reminds me of an experience I had walking with my youngest son in a residential neighborhood in Washington, DC. As she looked at the rowhouse, built in 1875, she turned to me and asked why there was no driveway. Of course, when the house was built, cars had not yet been invented.
“What’s frustrating to me is that it’s not part of the conversation. I think society could benefit from talking about looking at things in the long term.”
We are sitting in what you all call the Clark House, but to me it will forever be known as the Rainbow House. Four years ago, my youngest son and I helped paint this house, and I remember you explaining the symbolic importance of this house. Today I’m working on a project called “Rainbow Road.” Can you share about that project?
“I’m a straight, white man who grew up on a farm in rural Linn County. I didn’t interact with people who were different from me until I was an adult. In the big picture, I don’t tolerate any form of discrimination. Because they are not protected, they are able to go about their daily lives with little to no interference from society at large.However, I see first-hand how marginalized groups are actively discriminated against. I have a choice to ignore what is happening around me or to stand on the side of what is considered historically correct. I believe in what I am doing, even if it is imperfect. And while I hope some reprieve will be granted, I’m doing this with history in mind. This house has not only rainbow flags, but also the Stonewall Riots and Marsha P. Johnson. The Pride Plus flag, which is directly related to We hear you, you are seen, you are here, and we embrace you.”
“Rainbow Road takes this to the next level, with 10 houses in a row creating a Caribbean rainbow. I have traveled quite a bit and have seen areas of other countries; Even in otherwise low-income, run-down areas of census tracts, houses are painted anyway. You can turn run-down areas into something that people all over the world will come see. Rio’s Examples include the Lapa area and Comuna 13 in Medellin, Colombia. Rainbow Road is designed to bring people together.”
In addition to your own projects, you have dedicated your time to supporting aspiring property managers, especially among historically marginalized populations. Why is that important?
“I have the most expertise in real estate and asset management, so I can see how this is being used as a tool to systematically divide and harm people. From my perspective, this It’s been used to hurt people, so I think it can be used as a tool to help people. A big part of that is capital.”
Gashmit went on to explain that the disproportionately high proportion of white male landlords is in contrast to the disproportionate number of people of color who are renters rather than landlords.
“My neighbors have complained twice about my tenant’s race. People have complained many times that I shouldn’t rent to someone from Chicago or use similar coded language. People of color are renting from people who don’t share the same background or life experiences. (We) need more access and more diversity in these rooms of power. is.”
You started your company with a house that you repaired with your own money. In a relatively short period of time, you will be working on a large-scale project that will impact this community for decades and possibly generations to come. What should people know about the challenges that come with exponential growth?
“There’s a belief that as things scale up, certain dynamics get easier. The reality is that the challenges just change. I think they don’t get easier, they get harder as you grow. But this company… That’s what drives me because I see (the company) growing and what it can do.”
Sophia DeMartino is a Gazette editor. sofia.demartino@thegazette.com
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